雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, you might think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, and you'd be right. However, the first two-wheeled vehicle, called a 'velocipede', appeared in 1817 and was powered by pushing your feet against the ground. It had no pedals. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, which made riding faster but also more dangerous. It wasn't until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels was introduced, making it much safer and more practical for everyday use.